The half-marathon countdown is on!

Today I ran 11 miles for my weekend long run. I am using the Jeff Galloway beginner’s track and it’s great because the increase of distance is very gradual. For instance, many training plans have you increasing a mile or so each weekend. But the plan I am on has me doing something like 9.5 miles one weekend, 3 miles the next and 11 miles the week after that. For someone who is training not just for endurance, but also for technique, I really appreciate the extra time.

October 20th is just 34 days away and I am so ready for my first half marathon! This weekend was really fun because not only did I have my long run today, I also ran a fun 5k with a few friends including Raleigh bloggers Erin Lane and Melissa Culbertson on Friday night.

The run/walk was called the Electric Run which is at night and set to crazy techno music and black lights. I felt both awesome and ridiculous at the same time in my glowstick glasses! They said they were expecting 10,000 runners and I don’t doubt it with the size of the crowds. The energy was fantastic but I won’t lie, I may have been a little nauseous during the strobe light path to the finish. That said, we had a great time!

The Bull City Race fest in October will basically be the hipster opposite of “club Electric” complete with local beer and a food truck rodeo at the finish. I love that there is so much variety with races now. There truly is something for everyone. However, I am starting to realize that the food trucks might not be as awesome as I once thought because the longer I run, the less I want to think about, look at or eat food when I finish.

So not fair.

Regardless, I am really pumped about the race and I am so proud of myself for coming this far! It’s been quite the journey since the 5k I ran in April. Today I ran 11 miles. ELEVEN. Each time I complete a new distance record I am amazed at my body’s ability to do this. I was never this person. I am training my mind as well as my body on this journey. The awesome thing is I am getting outside more and the weather has been so amazing. I crossed paths a couple times with another runner who was going the opposite direction. The second time, we met he must have realized I was on a long run because he started clapping for me! This was right as I was about to start my last mile and I so needed that boost. I was smiling for at least a half mile after that.

Bull City I am coming for you!

I’m still learning, but so grateful to have the chance.

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Andrea Updyke is a married mom of two boys living in Raleigh, NC. A self-proclaimed social media nerd, she published her first book, Klout for Dummies, in 2013.
Andrea's personal mission is to celebrate the big and the small in parenting young children. She also shares her many attempts at balancing working-from-home and motherhood along with the fun stuff like traveling to Walt Disney World, running half-marathons and drinking way too much coffee.